Susan Rae, Romantic Suspense Author

Romance and Suspense…The Best of Both Worlds!

Archive for the tag “mystery”

SAFER AT HOME–All my e-books $.99

During this difficult time of Covid-19, I am trying to do my part by staying home and offering some romantic escapism to help you stay at home, too.  All of my e-books are $.99 on Amazon…Click on the following titles and they will take you to the links.  Heartbeats and Freefall will be available for $.99 through April 15th. If you’ve already read those but haven’t had the chance to read Ice Blue and True blue, they will be $.99 through May 15th.  Better still, if you are a member of Kindle Unlimited, you can read them for free!

Okay, so it’s been quite a while since I’ve posted on my website. It’s been even longer since I’ve written a new novel. All I can say is, “life happens.”  And well, I guess that is my point.  I lost a very dear friend and family member in 2014 in a tragic accident. (She was a nurse, by the way, who I know would be selflessly giving of herself now if she were here.) That took a lot out of me. I also started having more grandchildren. Between that and some medical issues, I decided I wanted to spend more time out there living in the world, spending as much time with my loved ones as I could, and less time sitting behind a computer in isolation–because that is basically what you do when you write a book, or at least that is the way this author works. When I am writing a suspense novel, I spend countless hours a day researching, brainstorming, plotting, and then diligently getting the words to flow through my fingers onto the screen. (Although, even then, I admit, I am never truly alone because all those characters are there with me—and I am never truly tied down to my chair, because I am experiencing all the amazing settings and crazy adventures that my characters are experiencing.)

I’ve also spent the last two years designing, general contracting, and building our retirement home with my husband.  That alone has been quite a whirlwind of creativity, as well as endless activity.

But the last couple of months, with the house almost done, I’ve been thinking of dragging my manuscripts out as those characters have stubbornly nudged their way to the forefront of my consciousness.

Now enter Covid-19 and SAFER at HOME (which our adopted state of Wisconsin’s Governor Evers declared on March 25 and which I believe sounds better and more accurate than Social Isolation). I figure it is as good a time as any to start writing again. But, more importantly, I would like to help ease the burden of some of you staying safe at home by offering all my e-books on sale at Amazon.com for only $.99 each, so you, too, can virtually escape your four walls for a bit and enjoy some romance and suspense with the doctors, paramedics, and officer heroes in the DeLuca Series and Freefall.  Just click on the following titles and they will take you to the links on Amazon.  Heartbeats and Freefall will be available for $.99 through April 15th. If you’ve already read those but haven’t had the chance to read Ice Blue and True blue, they will be $.99 through May 15th.  Better still, if you are a member of Kindle Unlimited, you can read them for free!

However way you choose to pass these next few weeks, please stay SAFER at HOME, but if you are one of our true heroes that must be on the front lines—perhaps the nurse, the doctor, the grocery store clerk, the postman, the paramedic, the police officer–please stay safe, God bless you, and Thank-You for helping us all survive this scary, turbulent time.

 

A Word About Setting and Its Influence on the Story — And a Chance to win a FREE e-copy of TRUE blue!

TRUE blue is the third installment of my mystery/suspense series based on a Chicago cop family, the DeLucas. So why, you might ask, is there a picture of a mountain lake and a waterfall on the cover?

Good question. Yes, two thirds of the story in TRUE blue does take place in the streets of Chicago. Chicago is a fascinating city compiled of seventy-seven different neighborhoods that house the poorest of the poor to the richest of the rich and every socioeconomic class in between. Diversity is Chicago’s middle name. The streets are bustling with commerce, culture, and unfortunately in many instances, crime. Given all that, what better place to set a mystery/suspense novel? From the often serene beauty of Lake Michigan and the famous Chicago skyline to the tired apartment complexes of the inner city, Chicago is ripe for stories of personal triumph and despair.

And, for a pair of married detectives, it is filled with cases that need to be solved. But life can be hectic in this bustling city when you are attempting to keep up with your current case load while trying to solve a twenty-four year old murder, deal with the return of a childhood sweetheart, keep a marriage together, and raise a very active three-year old all at the same time. Oh, and then there’s the extended family and all their issues to contend with.  (Read on and leave a comment to automatically be entered to win a free e-book copy of TRUE blue! Drawing for the winner will be on August 3.) Read more…

TRUE blue (DeLuca Family 3) is Now Available at All Major eRetailers!

Or, I could just as easily title this post: “Following the writing schedule and meeting the deadline!”

Available May 16th from musapublishing.com, Amazon.com, and all major eBook Retailers

Available May 16th from musapublishing.com, Amazon.com, and all major eBook Retailers

I am thrilled to announce that TRUE blue released on schedule on Friday, May 16th.  This one was a tough one to pull off.  When I started writing the book last September, I didn’t realize how involved it was going to get, or the obstacles that would be put in my path along the way.  However, when my publisher gave me the release date of May 16th, I knew I had to finish the book on time so I could meet the date.  You see, that is my father’s birthdate, and although he passed away almost ten years ago now, I felt that the date was a sign that yes, I did needed to finish this book and get it out there. But a May 16th release date meant a February 15th completed clean draft date so I could get it to my editor and we could work through the edits and get it to my publisher by their March 16th deadline.

A lot happened between September and February 15th: the major family holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s; a debilitating illness; and the death of a very dear family member.  Through it all, though, I knew I had to keep working, meeting the weekly page schedule that I set for myself in the beginning of the writing. It wasn’t always easy. There were times when the last thing I wanted to do was sit my butt down in the chair and write.  However, when one has a goal the only way to reach it is to keep plugging along.  And, as of February 5th, I had another reason to complete the book–I had a very dear sister-in-law who was taken too early that I wanted to dedicate it to.

So yes, the book is here, and as the author, I am even more thrilled that it is all and even more than I imagined it would be.  TRUE blue continues the story of the DeLuca Family and deals with love and abiding friendship while tackling a twenty-four year old murder mystery.  There’s also a little steam in it to spice it up. And if you haven’t read DeLuca Family 1 and 2 (heartbeats and ICE blue), don’t be dismayed. You can enjoy TRUE blue as a stand alone novel, too!

So for now, Happy Reading while I celebrate. Although, I must say, the next book is already percolating in my head.  Ah, the life of a writer :-).

TRUE blue (DeLuca Family)

Sometimes we must revisit the past to embrace our future.

Twenty-four years ago, the murder of a Chicago police officer changed Joey DeLuca’s life.  He lost his best friend and first love, Meghan McConnell, when her mother whisked her out of town.  Now, on the eve of another officer’s death, Meghan is back and about to step into his life again.

There is very little gray in Joey’s line of work as a Lt. Detective–it is either black or white, right or wrong. But Meghan’s insistence on finding answers to her father’s murder threatens those beliefs and throws his marriage to CPD Detective Andi, his career, and the entire DeLuca family in jeopardy when new revelations come to light.

Can Joey save his marriage, solve the murder, and keep his family together all at the same time?

BUY LINKS:

MusaPublishing.com

Amazon.com

Barnes and Noble Nook

Smashwords

EXCERPT: Click HERE

TRUE blue Cover Reveal/Contest!

Available May 16th from www.musapublishing.com, Amazon.com, and all major eBook Retailers

Available May 16th from http://www.musapublishing.com, Amazon.com, and all major eBook Retailers

UPDATE:  We have a winner in TRUE blue‘s Name that Picture on the Cover Contest!  Congratulations, Cindy Erexson. You correctly identified the scene as Glacier National Park and have won a free download of TRUE blue.

Only eleven days and counting until TRUE blue‘s release. And yes, although the main characters are Chicago Cops, somewhere along the way they have to leave the city and venture to Glacier.  Although the book is intrigue and suspense, it was quite fun writing the majestic scenery into the book and sharing it with readers.

If you would like to be one of the first to get a copy of TRUE blue, click HERE to pre-order it directly from MusaPublishing today!

________

Only THREE WEEKS and counting until TRUE blue’s release… and we have a cover!

I’m very excited about this one and in honor of its reveal, I am offering a FREE eBook copy of TRUE blue to the first person who leaves a comment on this post or on my Facebook page who correctly identifies where the background picture is taken. You get two guesses. That’s two chances to win!

TURE blue cover Pic

The inspiration for TRUE blue’s cover!

True Blue: Book Three in the DeLuca Family Series

When Lt. Detective Joey DeLuca’s childhood flame breezes into Chicago seeking answers to her father’s twenty-four year old murder, the situation heats up for Joey, his wife Andi, and the entire DeLuca clan. For an excerpt, click HERE!

(All DeLuca Series books can be enjoyed as stand-alone novels.)

Enter to be the first one to get a copy of TRUE blue when it is released May 16th!

(HINT: this view is some place in the United States. Hope that helps!)

Read more…

The Hot and Deadly Blog Hop/Giveaway is on. Start hopping now!

 Sexy athletic body

Summer is heating up, and so are the heroes in the Hot and Deadly Blog Hop!

What makes a hero deadly?  For fire paramedic Angela DeLuca, who is trying to protect an immigrant mother and her unborn baby, it’s the animal magnetism of ICE agent Troy Deavers, aka Thaddeus  Deavereux the Third in my new novel, ICE blue.  Alarm bells ring in Angela’s head as Troy’s smooth touch and passionate kisses awaken a fire in her she had long thought extinguished.

Enjoy the excerpt below, then leave a comment to be entered into a drawing for a free download of each of my first two novels heartbeats and freefall, and the chance to be entered into the Hot and Deadly Blog Hop grand-prize giveaway of a $53.50 gift certificate to B&N or Amazon, winners choice.

Click on the link after the excerpt to continue on with the hop and explore some more Hot and Deadly heroes.

Enjoy!

Susan Rae

Excerpt :  ICE blue

Cover_ICEblue_Medium-200

“More wine?”

She’d finished her glass and set it down on the table.

“No, thank you. It’s getting late and I have to be up early. I’m taking on an extra shift tomorrow.” She slid her chair back. He stood too and came around the table to help her.

“I’ll drive you home. Then I’ll grab a cab and come back and retrieve my own car.”

“Really, that’s not necessary.”

“But, given the wine we drank…as a matter of fact, maybe we both should take a cab.”

She tested her bearings as she rose. She knew her limits and she was definitely not drunk. If she was, she wouldn’t think twice about calling a cab. She’d seen far too often the results of drinking and driving. Read more…

Five Star Reviews for ICE blue!

Great reviews continue to come in for ICE blue!

5 Stars!– “ICE blue is a wonderful weaving of love that blooms amid the sad problems of poor people being exploited by ruthless powerful money seekers. Well done.” – Alberta, Manic Readers

5 Stars! – Fast Paced – Cold Drama – “Aptly titled, ‘ICE blue’ is an action packed page turning mystery thriller with a steamy romance thrown in to keep things interesting..Rae is my hero for placing the human trafficking issue in the United States at the forefront of good fiction. James Patterson can stand aside as I can’t wait to read the third volume of the DeLuca series when it comes out next year.” –Gregory S. Lamb PDX Author

5 Stars!  –Don’t let the fact that it’s the second in a series detract you. This book fully stands on its own. I loved Angela and Troy. Ms. Rae weaves a story that sticks with you.” – Brianna Soloski

I got hooked from the very beginning…Romantic suspense definitely describes this novel. I never knew what was going to happen next whether it be with Angela and Troy’s love life or their actual lives…I really enjoyed  this novel and I would recommend it to everyone.  4 Stars!— Anna Reese, My Pathway to Books 

To see more reviews, click HERE.

It’s the final week of the ICE blue Virtual Tour.  Follow along with the last stops on the tour:

May 21 – Wormy Hole – Review/Interview
May 22 – The Must Unleashed – Review
May 23 – The World as I See It – Review
May 24 – RABT Reviews – Review
Happy Reading!
Susan Rae

 

The ICE blue Virtual Tour Has Begun!

Guest blog posts and interviews with Susan Rae, excerpts and reviews of ICE blue, and Giveaways!  Click on one of the links below to follow along and see what the reviewers are saying about ICE blue.

ICE blue Virtual Book Tour April 12 – May 24
April 12 – Reading Addiction Blog Tours – Meet and Greet
April 13 – Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews – Interview/PROMO
April 18 – Read Your Writes – Guest Post/PROMO
April 22 – Book Reviews By Dee – Guest Post/PROMO
April 23 – Gimme the Scoop Reviews – PROMO
April 25 My Cozie Corner – Review  
April 26 – Beth Art From the Heart –  Review
April 30 – Books and Needlepoint – Interview
May 1 – My Reading Addiction – Review
May 2 – Enchanting Reads – Guest Post/PROMO
May 6 – Books and Needlepoint – Review
May 6 – My Devotional Thoughts – Guest Post/PROMO
May 8 – Total Book Geek – Review/Interview
May 9 – Author Ever Leigh – Review
May 10 – My Pathway to Books – Review
May 13 – Book Referees – Guest Post/PROMO
May 15 – The Canon – Review
May 16 – Texas Book Nook – Review
May 17 – Andi’s Book Reviews – Interview/PROMO
May 20 – Busy Mom Book Reviews – Review
May 21 – Wormy Hole – Review/Interview
May 22 – The Must Unleashed – Review
May 23 – The World as I See It – Review
May 24 – RABT Reviews – Review

It’s Tasty Tuesday at MUSA Publishing! Check out my recipe for scrumptious Macaroons.

IMG_4724It’s WEEK TWO of ICE blue’s release and I’m over on MUSA’s blog with a recipe for these scrumptious almond macaroons.  Check out the recipe HERE, then come on back and enter my drawing for a free download of heartbeats or freefall and your very own ICE blue coffee mug.  It’s perfect for curling up with your coffee and your e-reader on these blustery spring days.  Leave a comment at the end of this post and you will be automatically entered into the drawing which runs through Friday, April 12th.

For excerpts of ICE blue, please click HERE.

Also, we have winners from my first two drawings.  Rich and Kim M., Congratulations!  I will be contacting you by email regarding delivery of your mugs, and free eBook.

Happy Reading to you all!

Susan Rae

Read more…

ICE blue–Passion as well as suspense–Here’s a tease.

Cover_ICEblue_Medium-200

I hope you all had a great Easter.  Now, after all that family time, you might want to indulge in a little pleasure reading.  Here’s a tease from my new release.  Enjoy!  And, if you leave a comment at the end of this post, you’ll be automatically entered into my contest running through Friday, April 5th to win an ICE blue mug AND a free e-B00k of heartbeats or freefall.  Your choice!  Both received excellent reviews.

Buy Links:     Musa Publishing    Amazon.com   Barnes&Noble Nook

EXCERPT:  ICE blue  by Susan Rae

“More wine?”

She’d finished her glass and set it down on the table.

“No, thank you. It’s getting late and I have to be up early. I’m taking on an extra shift tomorrow.” She slid her chair back. He stood and came around the table to help her.

“I’ll drive you home. Then I’ll grab a cab and come back and retrieve my own car.”

“Really, that’s not necessary.”

“But, given the wine we drank…as a matter of fact, maybe we both should take a cab.”

She tested her bearings as she rose. She knew her limits and she was definitely not drunk. If she was, she wouldn’t think twice about calling a cab. She’d seen far too often the results of drinking and driving.

“Trust me, I’m fine.” She met his gaze straight on.

“All right,” he said at last, “but I’m taking a rain check.”

Her pulse throbbed in her neck at the look in his eyes. It was a challenge. Where did they go from here? Read more…

Independence Day Super Simple Door County Cherry Recipes

Hi, the independence day Day Blog Hop is over.  And the winner is….Mac! I hope you all enjoyed the hop.  I’ll keep these recipes on for anyone who wants them. 

The 4th of July Holiday is upon us, and let’s face it–this summer is hot and steamy—much too hot and steamy to spend time slaving away in the kitchen over some crazy convoluted recipe.  I don’t know about you, but I’d prefer spending time by the pool, or at the beach, reading a sizzling hot summer romance!

But it’s also time for family gatherings and parties.  So, I’ve put together some of my super simple recipes that will wow your guests and still leave you plenty of time and energy to enjoy your company or get through your summer reading list.  Suzi’s Super Simple Wow Recipes are inspired by my trips to Door County, Wisconsin and feature Door County Cherries, but you can substitute any cherry pie filling in them if you like—they just won’t taste quite as tartly sweet and delicious!

Ahh…Door County…very beautiful and inspiring—so much so that I feature the setting in my own new sizzling hot romantic suspense novel, freefall.  (You can click HERE to find out more about freefall and read an excerpt.  I highly suggest it for that poolside or beach read! Buy Links:  MusaPublishing.com ; Amazon.com ; Barnes and Noble.com)

Door County Tranquility

A Tasty Sampler of Some of Door County’s Best!

From the panoramic vistas of Green Bay looking out from the bluffs on the western side of the peninsula, to the quaint little towns and shops hugging the inlets and bays, Door County forms an idyllic yet dramatic backdrop for the intrigue in freefallas well as a great place to spend a vacation.  My husband and I make it a point to spend at least a few days up there each year, and on our way home, we always stop at one of the roadside farm markets and stock up on pie filling, dried cherries, and many of the other cherry goodies offered.  If you can’t get to Door County, don’t despair!  The good news is, they are available on-line.  The bad news is, this year’s crop is expected to be just 5% of normal, due to the extreme heat in early March, then the following freeze which killed the early blossoms.  So, if you want some of these delicious cherries, you may want to order them now while some of last year’s crop is still available.  I’ve included two of the links at the end of the blog.

Now, onto the recipes—and remember, I said they were super easy! Read more…

Freefall Has Arrived!

I  am very excited to announce that freefall, my second novel with Musa Publishing, has just been released.  As I write this, I am gazing at the two dozen red roses my husband gave me—not for the release, but for our anniversary. It would seem after all these years, he still likes me!

Yes, I am a romantic at heart, and that’s why I love writing romance novels; but not just any romance novels, novels with gripping stories that give you lots of suspense and intrigue with a good deal of spice mixed in—novels that explore our relationships with family, friends, and lovers.

With that being said, I’d love to introduce you to freefall, the book I always wanted to write. The inspiration came from my Read more…

Character Interview with Elizabeth and Drake from Heartbeats

Recently I had the chance to interview Elizabeth and Drake from heartbeats for the Musa Publishing Blog.  I donned my BahBahwahwah hat and this is what happened.   Lot’s of tension between these two, to be sure!  Enjoy!

Interview with Elizabeth Iverson and Drake McGuire from heartbeats, by Susan Rae  

 Elizabeth and Drake, thank you for coming to chat with us today. We don’t often get both the hero and heroine together for these chats.  This should be fun.  Can either one of you tell me why you think Susan Rae chose the two of you to represent her today?

 Elizabeth:  I think she just felt that since it’s our story, we would be the best ones to present it.  She chose both of us, I’m sure, because we come at it from different angles.  You see, when the novel begins, it’s been six years since we have seen each other.  We met once in college, and then briefly a few years later, but since then, we have both gone our separate ways. 

 Drake:  Briefly, Elizabeth?  That’s how you’re describing it now?

 Elizabeth:  Well…

 Do I detect some sarcasm there, Drake? 

 Drake:  Let’s just get on with it.

 Okay.  Elizabeth, can you tell us a little about yourself?  You’re a doctor, right?

 Elizabeth:  Yes, I am.

 Did you always want to be a doctor?

 Elizabeth:  Honestly?  As long as I can remember.  You see, I grew up on a farm about forty-five miles from here, in the far northwest suburbs of Chicago.  Thinking back, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t dream about becoming a doctor. When I was little, my Barbie dolls didn’t wear clothes; they wore bandages and tourniquets.  I was always pretending to try out the latest medical procedure on some poor, unsuspecting farm animal—with some very interesting results, as you can imagine.  My parents didn’t have a lot of money, but I made it to the university on a scholarship.  When my dad died of a heart attack while I was in med school, I decided to specialize in cardiology.  That’s my passion, cardiology—both intervention and prevention.  That, and of course, my daughter, Allison—the light of my life.

 I understand you’re a single mother. Read more…

Down Time–Top 10 Reasons Moms Love Their eReaders!

Hi, author Susan Rae here.  Welcome to my blog and the Mother’s Day Book Blast Blog   Hop.  Leave a comment below and you will automatically be entered to win a free download of Heartbeats or Freefall!

Mommy down time—we all need it.  Unfortunately it often comes in fits and spurts and we have to make the most of it when we get it.  What is the one thing that helps Moms get a quick break now and then in this hectic world we live in?  Their eReaders. Here is my highly scientific survey on the top ten reasons why moms absolutely love their e-readers.  Okay, I admit, it’s not all that scientific–I simply asked a few mothers what they love about their eReaders and this is what we came up with!

1o.  On The Go:  eReaders are lightweight and fit easily into the diaper bag.

9.  The Forever Nursing Baby:  Easy to hold the baby in one arm/hand and your eReader in the other. Super easy to turn the page with a touch of the button.  Doesn’t disturb baby. Read more…

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